Oliver Kahn's exit 'a matter of time' as Bayern Munich chief

Oliver Kahn’s departure is ‘a matter of time’ with the Bayern Munich chief ‘under pressure for letting David Alaba and Robert Lewandowski leave and dressing room unrest under former coach Julian Nagelsmann’

• Bayern suffered a 4-1 loss to Man City in the Champions League quarter-finals
• Pressure has increased on Bayern chief Oliver Kahn after the club’s exit
• Kahn could be removed from his position after criticism of his recent decisions 

Oliver Kahn’s position as Bayern Munich CEO is reportedly ‘a matter of time’ as pressure mounts on the club’s leadership following the German giants exit from the Champions League.

Bayern suffered a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals, following a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s second leg.

The defeat came despite Bayern taking the shock decision to sack Julian Nagelsmann last month, with the hope Thomas Tuchel’s appointment would enhance their prospects in the competition.

The elimination from the Champions League also follows Bayern’s exit from the German Cup, after suffering a 2-1 loss to Freiburg earlier this month.

Fans have turned the blame towards the Bayern’s management, with a banner held up prior to the clash with City stating ‘Goals can be missed – not the club’s values. Question management policy.’

Oliver Kahn’s position as Bayern Munich CEO is reportedly under increasing threat

Kahn could be removed from his position after Bayern’s failure in the Champions League

Bayern failed to reach the semi-finals after suffering a 4-1 loss to Man City on aggregate

Jan Aage Fjortoft has reported there is an ‘ongoing process’ to remove Kahn, with his departure ‘a matter of time’.

German outlet Bild reported that Kahn is ‘shaking brutally’ in his role, with several of the club legend’s decisions facing increased scrutiny.

Kahn’s contract runs until December 31, 2024, but no talks are reportedly planned to extend his deal.

Kahn’s decision to pay a world record £21.7m fee to bring Nagelsmann to the club in 2021 has also been questioned, with the 35-year-old having since been discarded in favour of Tuchel.

The fractured nature of Bayern’s camp also came to the surface after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, with Sadio Mane having allegedly punched team-mate Leroy Sane in the face in a dressing room altercation.

Sane was pictured with a bruised lip after the incident that saw former Liverpool winger Mane suspended and fined for the physical altercation.

The former goalkeeper has reportedly faced criticism for the decision to allow defender David Alaba to leave on a free transfer in 2021, with the Austrian now forming a key part of Real Madrid’s backline.

Alaba’s exit came with Bayern spending £105million on Dayot Upamecano and Matthias de Ligt, with the former particularly struggling against Man City.

Attention has turned towards Kahn’s role with the Bayern CEO’s decision facing criticism

Bayern’s exit came despite the decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as manager last month

Kahn has also been criticised for the failure to sign a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, after the Poland striker joined Barcelona in a £42.5m deal last summer.

The Bayern CEO was asked about the mounting criticism of his tenure prior to the second leg against Man City, with Kahn admitting the club’s hierarchy will ask itself ‘many questions’. 

‘I think people are constantly questioning us,’ Kahn told Kicker. ‘We will go into ourselves and ask ourselves many, many questions.

 ‘It doesn’t do much to me. I’ve played here for 14 years, I know what it’s like when you see the goals here not achieved.

‘That happens very quickly, criticism just comes up, you have to accept that, I have to deal with it. I’m also a very reflective person, but at the moment I don’t have much time to think about all that.

‘We have to see that we use this championship opportunity. And then we will all calmly think about many, many things.’

Kahn was appointed as Bayern CEO in 2020 with the 52-year-old succeeding the retiring Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Despite Bayern having retained the Bundesliga title during Kahn’s first two years in the role, the club have failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and German Cup.

Bayern are currently top of the Bundesliga despite a turbulent season, with the reigning champions holding a two point lead over Borussia Dortmund. 

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